Future Retro Orb Owner Manual User Manual

Page 27

TRANSPOSING THE XS USING MIDI

It is possible to play the XS with the Orb, and to be able to
transpose the played pitches in the XS using a MIDI keyboard.

For this setup, you will need to connect the CV Out of the Orb to
the OSC MOD In of the XS, the Gate Out of the Orb to the Gate In
of the XS, and the Accent Out of the Orb to the Velocity In of the
XS. Connect the MIDI Out of any MIDI controller or keyboard to
the MIDI In of the XS.

In the XS, set the CV Track control to the A B setting. In the

Oscillator Modulation section, set the A Mod Select to EXT with
the A Amount control turned fully clockwise, and set the B Mod
Select control to EXT with the B Amount control turned fully
clockwise.

This then allows the Orb to control the pitch of both oscillators

in the XS using the modulation section, while MIDI notes received
by the MIDI controller or keyboard are used to transpose the
oscillators.

Start out by playing MIDI note C2 on your MIDI keyboard, and
begin playback of the Orb sequencer. You should hear the XS
playing notes just as they are programmed into the Orb. While the
sequence plays you can play notes on your MIDI keyboard in the
range of C2 to C7 to transpose the pitch the XS oscillators play.
Notice that the transpose takes effect as soon as a new pitch is
played on the MIDI keyboard.

As an alternative, if you have another analog sequencer or analog
keyboard with a CV output, you could substitute either of them in
place of the MIDI keyboard to transpose oscillators in the XS.

In this case, you would not need to connect a MIDI keyboard to

the XS MIDI in. Instead you would connect the CV Out of your
sequencer or analog keyboard to the CV In of the XS. Then set the
CV Track control of the XS to the ABX setting.

USING MULTIPLE ORBS

Consider the advantages of using multiple Orb units to play a
single analog synthesizer. By synchronizing the playback of
multiple Orb units, they can all be played back simultaneously in
perfect time with one another.

Now imagine having, for example, three Orb units controlling

an XS semi-modular synthesizer. Each Orb could be used to
control a different section of the XS. But the advantage is that each
Orb can be doing its own thing. So let’s say that you have one Orb
assigned to control the pitch of the oscillators in the XS. The
second Orb controls the filter cutoff, or velocity of notes in the XS.
The third Orb controls the triggering of the envelopes in the XS.

Now that each element has been reduced to its simplest form,

you can change the pattern controlling the note pitches without
changing the rhythm of the XS and vice versa. Change the filter
cutoff frequency or note velocity without the pitch or rhythm
changing.

But the fun really begins when you play with patterns of

various lengths within each Orb. The result is pure polyrhythm
heaven.

You could also use two Orbs, each controlling one of the

oscillators within the XS to generate duophonic synth lines.

ATTACHING THE ORB TO THE XS
AND RACK MOUNTING MULTIPLE ORB UNITS
The Orb is the same size as our XS unit and has been designed so it
is possible to attach the Orb to either or both ends of the XS. The
Orb has also been designed so that when three units are attached
side by side, and rack ears are added to the outer two units, the
group will fit into a standard 19" rack enclosure.

For information on how to do this, please see the additional

documentation provided on the Orb page of our website.

Be sure to check the Orb product page of our website for any
future tips and tricks or additions to the information provided in
this manual.